Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-09-01
IN CENTRAL soUDAN.

from behind some cliff or ont OF an un-
seen hollow. and with marrow-plerc-
ing war-cries and unearthly screams,
spears lcyclled or swords uplfted,
bear down upon us like whirlwind.
amid clouds of dust, apparently bent
on annihiiating or sending to Gahenna
such inldels as ourselves. But even
though You feel a decided want Of
backbone. a dozen spears, as it were,
already quiyering in your bodies, and
your heads not worth the purchase,
pray DO not run away, nor even blench
for one moment. Assume an indiifer-
ent expression, as if being chopped up
or spitted on spears was a daily eXper-
fence. Ii YOU can smile in the emer-
gcncy, all the better, for Just rs we
seem TO feel the hot breath of their
horses on our cheeks, and in be-
wildered sort of way realize the disa-
greeable proximity of several spears,
another shout Will fill the air, the gal
| loping horses as if by magic viii stand
! stock-still, euyelopiug us in cloud of
dust, and by the cordial shouts of well
come and hearty salams we shall find
most pleasant assurance that all this
liendish display is intended as an hon
orable welcome 10 their town. Barely
shall we have realized that this is the
way they do these things in central
Soudan, and that instead of being
among foes we are among friends,
when the hotsemen are off again. SEEM
ingiy bent oLce more on annihilating
an unseen enemy.
I - I,,
hind the gateway we shall hear the
notes of native music, not such as
wodld delight Us lit home, but vet har-
monizing with our surroundings, and
not without a certain wild, weird
charm of its own Some of YOU may
have heard similar shrill melancholy
strains in the streets of Cairo in festi-
val professions, or still more appro-
prately in Arab camps. Presently,
however, the music will cease TO mo-
nOpolize your attention, as the musi-
clans themselves advance with their
huge trImpets six feet long, their pipes
and hour-glass-shaped tomtoms, her
| aiding the approach of a tillani noble
man. Following at no great distance
comes the respected magnate yolumi-
nously clothed, and mounted on a
pancing iiery-eyed horse, one mass Of
rich trappngs, which jingle and rustic
at its every step. This is the messen-
ger sent to bid Us welcome by the Sui
tan-a task which he will perform
with that dignified bearing and Unborn
grace which seem somehow specially
characteristic of Mohaprledan races.
This ceremony over, the horsemen viii
once more engage in mimic battle,
showing their modes of fighting, and
the skill with which they WELD their
weapons and manage their horses.
Thus escorted, we shall be expected to
fall into procession, and headed BY a
court singer, who improyises Il chant
in our honor, which is accompanied by
the pipes, and accentuated by the steu-
torian notes Of the trumpets and the
unmusical notes of the tomtoms, we
shall be conducted through wondering
but respectful crowds to the quarters
specially provided for us in the town.
Let Us imagine that this quaint and
interesting ceremony is over, and that
we are safely housed that we have lis
tened To second messenger from the
Sultan, and looked over the abundance
of good things sent for our immediate
entertainment and finally have been
left alone to refresh ourselves and rest
after the excessive fatigueS of our
journey.
Toward the cool of tie evening we
can afford to wander forth once more,
and seek new sights and scenes to graf
lily our lively curiosity. We must be
prepared 10 br followed by crowds of
the lower classes, more eager to see
us than even we can be To see them.
But observe how Respectful they are,
and how little of bJlbaruuS vugai.ity
they have in their examination of Us,
as compared with the pagan tribes we
have hitherto passed through on our
journey.
Leaving for another occasion the
examination of the inside of their
houses-their penctralia--let Us wan
der through the town. Long dead
walls of glaring red clay suggesting
prisons are varied by the occurrence
here and there of square tower-like
building having an ordinary doorway
TO the street. From the roofs of these
towers project long clay pipes to drain
on the water from the 1latrOofs. Some
times, instead of flat-roofcd building,
a eonical-roofed erection takes its
place, and in place Of the ordinary
European-like doorway characteristic
Of all the square buildings a horseshoe
shaped entrance performs the same
duty. Mats or fences of sorghum
stalks replace not iufrequently the